11 February 2012 No 6 ISSN 1664-7963

Current Concerns PO Box CH-8044 Zurich Current Concerns Switzerland The international journal for independent thought, ethical standards, moral responsibility, Phone: +41 44 350 65 50 Fax: +41 44 350 65 51 and for the promotion and respect of public international law, human rights and humanitarian law

E-Mail: [email protected] Website: www.currentconcerns.ch English Edition of Zeit-Fragen

European integration (Part 3) Making resound the “European orchestra” “Method Schaffner” as a key to understanding Switzerland’s success by Dr rer. publ. Werner Wüthrich

In part 1 of this article we recognised the “method Monnet” as a key to the under- standing of the euro-crisis (Current Con- cerns No.31 of 31 December 2011). In part 2 we got to know two different con- cepts of the “European integration”, on one hand the concept of the EEC respec- tively of today’s EU and on the other hand EFTA, the European Free Trade Associ- ation (Current Concerns No. 4 of 6 Feb- ruary 2012). We learned about the politi- cians who wanted to establish the “model” EFTA. In Switzerland these were the Fed- eral Councillors Hans Schaffner and Frie- drich Traugott Wahlen above all who were in charge of the “Europe dossier” with their closest co-workers Albert Weitnauer and Paul Jolles. Debating the two differ- ent concepts some éclats of different kinds occured. Thus, the ink on the EFTA’s con- tract of 1960 had hardly dried, when Great Britain wanted to switch over to the EEC and the other EFTA’s countries were about to follow half-heartedly in the wake of the great power. Today’s documents show that Federal councillor Hans Schaffner (on the left) and Federal councillor Willy Spühler the US government had pulled the strings (on the right), successor of Friedrich Traugott Wahlen at the Federal Department of in the background. The French president Foreign Affairs, during a meeting of the EFTA States in London in December 1966. – Charles de Gaulle thwarted the plan when With good negotiating skills and great sense of responsibility the best was achieved for by finishing the negotiations about the ac- the country. (picture keystone) cession of Great Britain on 14 January General Agreement on Tariff and protection of a healthy farming communi- 1963 with a “drum beat”. Only now EFTA Trade (GATT) ty and an efficient agriculture (Art. 31 to could begin with her real work. 23 countries founded GATT in 1947 with paragraph 3 BV). The agriculture law of the aim of gradually diminishing high 1951 protected the subsistence of the local A struggle about the “right” way of eco- duties and trade barriers worldwide. At farmers with customs and contingents. nomic integration could be observed not that time the USA, for example, charged Therefore, an accession was not possible. only in Europe. Another theatre was the sixty percent of customs for Swiss watch- Hans Schaffner’s task, at that time head GATT negotiations. Here too, there were es. The highly-developed industrial na- of the trade department, was to negoti- different ideas how the economic life be- tions of the West, agrarian countries like ate consent for an exception regulation. In tween the countries could be interlinked Australia and Brazil, developing countries 1958 he had almost reached this goal. Al- worldwide in a better way. Here, too, Hans and some communist countries belonged most all members of GATT agreed to take Schaffner with his co-workers were on the to the founding members. All members up Switzerland with a special regulation. front-line; after all, 45 percent of the ex- had equal rights and every country had However, the agrarian countries Australia ports of Switzerland were determined for one vote. The contracts could be changed and New Zealand put in a veto, and Swit- non-European countries. Here too, a sim- only if everybody agreed. zerland was accepted only as a provisional ilarly paradoxical situation as mentioned In the post-war period, Switzerland ex- member without the right to vote. above occured. Federal Councillor Hans ported – similar as today – about forty per- This did not prevent Hans Schaffner Schaffner headed the so-called Kennedy- cent of their products and services and was from co-operating actively. Thus he headed Round, the most important round of nego- interested in joining. It did not come to the conference of ministers of GATT from tiations of GATT after the Second World that. In 1947 the Swiss voters had agreed 16 to 21 May 1963, which put up the set War, although Switzerland was not at all on the new economic articles in the Fed- of rules for the so-called Kennedy-Round. a member of GATT. How was this strange eral Constitution. They obliged the fed- situation brought about? eral government to take measures for the continued on page 2 No 6 11 February 2012 Current Concerns Page 2

”Making resound the …” trade was actually never carried out pre- bert Weitnauer had called it, was reacti- continued from page 1 cisely in GATT. This has not changed until vated again. This meant that the EFTA today. In the Doha-Round, WTO as a suc- countries were to be integrated bit by bit He succeeded in winning over the general cessor organisation of GATT has tried to into the EEC for political reasons follow- manager of GATT to support the full ac- transfer the rules of the global free trade on ing instructions by the USA. In 1973 both cession of Switzerland with a special regu- agriculture for eleven years and has failed. NATO members Great Britain and Den- lation. On 1 April 1966 the time had come: Since 1960, EFTA has kept to the rule of mark left EFTA and switched to the Eu- All members of GATT agreed. Hans Schaf- leaving the agricultural policy to the indi- ropean Community, the EC, as they had fner described this situation in the “Bun- vidual member countries. already planned in 1960. In 1995 both desblatt“, the official Journal of Switzer- Let us come back to the “European in- neutral countries Sweden and Austria fol- land, as follows: “Our partners consented tegration”. In this area, Hans Schaffner lowed. NATO member Norway did not to it partly because they did not want to ob- and his co-workers succeeded with their join as had been planned because the vot- struct the way to GATT for a country of the politics, too. It is striking how skilfully ers rejected the step. Nevertheless, it par- stature of Switzerland in spite of its firm- they moved in international circles and ticipated in EEA which intended the au- ly established peculiarity which did not fit how actively they helped to form the po- tomatic takeover of EU law and a close in no pattern. […] In this sense freedom, litical procedings as representatives of a connection to the EU, a step which was which was conceded to Switzerland for the neutral small state (although or just be- rejected by the voters in Switzerland in continuation of their agricultural policy is cause Switzerland was not a member of 1992. not unrestricted. The barriers arise from the the UN at that time). Therefore, in the middle of the 1990s, fact that our country leads no isolated ex- Switzerland was the last founder member istence, but is connected with its economic Free trade treaty of 1972 of EFTA that had not followed the “Jean environment in the minutest detail.” (Bun- After the veto of the French president de Monnet/USA-concept” and held on to desblatt 1966, p. 713) Gaulle seven EFTA countries took up the initial way of co-operating as a sov- Some months later Albert Weitnauer, their original plan again to create a broad ereign country in a liberal manner with leader of the Swiss negotiating delegation, foreign trade zone, which enclosed the like-minded people. Presumably, it did described the occurrences in GATT even countries of the European Community not happen accidentally that Switzerland more exactly in the ambassadors’ confer- as well as EFTA as equal participants, a was attacked massively by the USA only ence: “The general agreement in its exact project which had been prevented by the a short time afterwards. With a well-or- wording is observed by nobody, so to USA in the 1950s. In 1969 Hans Schaf- chestrated campaign and contrary to the speak. In the granting of exceptions or dis- fner withdrew from the Federal Council facts, Jewish circles accused the coun- pensations from the obligations of GATT for health reasons. Before however, he try of being chummy with Hitler during the organisation has always proceeded after had succeeded in strengthening the trea- the Second World War. This attack came the principle to act the stricter, the strong- ty system of EFTA during the last years at a convenient moment to the “Monnet’s er the respective country is in economic of his government participation. Paul networks” in the Swiss media and among terms. Developing countries enjoy a spe- Jolles, head of the integration office, was some politicians of Switzerland, because cial statute that relieves them from the ob- involved authoritatively when in 1972 the it offered them the chance to undermine ligation to comply with all of GATT’s reg- planned free trade treaty was concluded the feeling of independence and self-con- ulations. The highly developed countries on between the EC and the EFTA countries. fidence of the Swiss citizens so as to pave the other hand whose balance of payments For Hans Schaffner and his co-workers the way for an accession. It did not work. is in order have great trouble to receive dis- the contract had also a personal meaning: The disappointment of these circles might pensation from their obligations from the At that time a relatively small group of peo- have been a bitter one as in 2001 the Swiss GATT according to the admitted Accord ple in the Federal Council and the admin- voters declined the opening of negotia- Général. Under these circumstances after istration conducted the negotiations of Eu- tions of accession with 76 percent of the we had had to be content during more than ropean policies. Therefore, it was a great votes, with about the same percentage by seven years with the status of a provisional satisfaction for them when the Swiss vot- which they had agreed to the broad Euro- member, we could register it as a success ers agreed to these policies and accepted pean foreign trade zone 30 years before of our trade policy that we succeeded to be the free trade treaty with the overwhelm- which enclosed EFTA and the EC coun- taken up as a full member of the organisa- ing majority of 72.5 percent of affirmative tries as equal participants. Today, negotia- tion by a decision of the GATT’s contract- votes and with the majority of all cantons. tions of accession would probably be re- ing parties on 1 April of this year, although In the period that followed, the EC and jected even much clearer. the Swiss agricultural policy with their var- EFTA experienced their best years. The ied import restrictions is by no means com- great free trade treaty of 1972 was comple- Monnet mania patible with the GATT’s statute.” (Ambas- mented during the next years with numer- As already mentioned, the European sadors’ conference; 1 September 1966, ous other contracts from the tertiary sector, Community and EFTA experienced their www.dodis.ch/30835) with the big insurance agreement of 1989, best years during the years after the end of Hans Schaffner and Friedrich Traugott for example. Agriculture was left to the in- the great free trade treaty of 1972. The of- Wahlen had championed the conviction dividual countries. The project, to integrate ficial historiography of the EU which fol- in GATT that the principles the free trade the countries of Western Europe econom- lows the Monnet doctrine, however, views could not be transferred one to one onto ag- ically, had been successful. However, the this differently. There is talk of 25 years riculture because the differences were too supposition of 1960, Brussels would begin of euro-scepticism (“euro-sclerosis”), big between the individual countries and to diminish its bureaucracy again, did not which has begun with the election of de because self-subsistence might have an ex- come true, to the contrary: things were to Gaulle as French state president in 1958. istential meaning for many countries. Swit- turn out quite differently. Only the French socialist Jacques Delors, zerland had experienced this very intensely who was appointed commission president during the Second World War. This convic- New edition of the in 1985, had led the community out of the tion had already flowed into the statutes of “Jean Monnet/USA-Concept” EFTA. History was to prove this point of When Charles de Gaulle died in 1971, view right. In the field of agriculture free the “Jean Monnet/USA-Concept“, as Al- continued on page 3 No 6 11 February 2012 Current Concerns Page 3

”Making resound the …” Contempt of true greatness see Swiss wartime actions misrepresented continued from page 2 Hans Schaffner and his co-workers who so consistently. It is time to set the record had shaped the face of modern Switzer- straight:[…]”. “deep crisis”. This is how Wikipedia puts land decisively, however, fell more and it nowadays. more into oblivion, or the remembrance of Autonomous population Delors did not diminish the escalating their policy was pushed consciously aside. The population of Switzerland did not bureaucracy, as expected, but extended His party, the FDP, changed its face and allow themselves to be infected with Mon- it massively. In June 1989 he present- has trouble to find its profile today. After net mania. In spite of the constant one- ed a 3-step plan aiming at establishing the EEA vote they took up the EU acces- sided stream of the media they usually an economic and monetary union and sion in their party programme (and delet- remained objective. In 1992 the Swiss vot- set the course to the mess we are stuck ed it again recently). At that time Federal ers rejected EEA, although the parliament in today. Even before, money played a Councillor Didier Burkhalter, today re- had spent tax money on a massive Yes- crucial role in this policy: In the course sponsible for the foreign affairs, joined the propaganda the first time in the history of of decades billions had been channeled, Nebs (and later separated from it again). the federal state. In 2001 they rejected the well intentioned, via the different struc- The goal of the “New European Movement opening of accession talks by 76 percent. tural funds and later the cohesion funds Swiss, Nebs” is the EU accession. Since The voters agreed to the “Bilateral Con- to the southern countries “to strengthen their “re-orientation” the party lost about tracts I and II”. Nevertheless, these bilat- the entrepreneurial spirit” as nicely stat- one quarter of their electorate in the 90s. eral contracts have another quality than ed in the official programmes. Today we It became quiet around Federal Coun- the former ones. Old state secretary Franz know that a lot of money did not serve cillor Hans Schaffner. Actually, there does Blankart, the negotiations leader of EEA, its purpose. On the contrary, the inde- not even exist a biography about him. In recently declared: “The [bilateral] con- pendence and the self-responsibility of his final years of life Hans Schaffner was tracts with the EU were negotiated under these countries have rather been un- even intentionally overlooked. The histo- the implied assumption that Switzerland dermined, as we see today. It is doubt- rians of the so-called “Bergier commis- would be a member of the EU in the fore- ful whether the money which will again sion” who were supposed to review the seeable future, which is why attention was flow into these countries within the events of the Second World War more hardly given to the formative co-opera- framework of the EFSF and the ESM, exactly even avoided consulting him as tion.” (NZZ on Sunday; 25 October 2009) will achieve more success. head of the Federal Headquarters for – “Switzerland sometimes has a hard time We know all developing stages of the Wartime Economy at that time. Presum- finding its way”. last years: the contract of Maastricht, ably they feared «that their prejudices In most countries the electorate were EEA, the introduction of the euro, the con- would have been disproved by his judg- not asked at all about the European poli- tracts of Schengen and Lisbon, the “Bilat- ment» as former State Secretary. Later, cies, or the vote was influenced by means eral Contracts I and II” with Switzerland, Franz Blankart wrote in his obituary on of gigantic government propaganda like the project of the tax and economy union, Hans Schaffner (“NZZ”; 30 November recently in Switzerland as well. the EFSF and ESM – nothing but steps 2004). It was not Hans Schaffner’s habit in the direction of a ever-closer political to give up, but he became active – like just The “method Schaffner” union, as this had already been planned in so often – and travelled to New York at as a key to understanding the preamble of the Treaties of Rome of the age of 93 years and stepped into the the success of Switzerland 1957. From the currently available doc- lion’s den. He expressed his indignation Many things look different today. The EU uments we know that this development about the misplaced attacks in an article in is in the crisis. The euro also does not work follows a political strategy which finally the “New York Times”. (“The truth about and many other things in the EU do not. comes from the USA and has its cause in Switzerland”, “New York Times”, 6 April The “method of Monnet” is in the process the cold war. 1998; www.nytimes.com/1998/04/06/ of being tested. EFTA – today with only Jean Monnet experienced his “gold- opinion/the-truth-about-switzerland. four members – continues their free trade en years“ after years of disregard in the html?pagewanted=all&src=pm). The first policy. They have concluded a multitude time of de Gaulle (from 1958 to 1969). lines should convey an impression: of individually negotiated free trade trea- His “mind” and his networks conquered “Once again debate has arisen con- ties during the last years with states in the the editorial staff rooms of most media, cerning the measures that should be whole world, which consider the peculiar- many party headquarters, governments taken by Switzerland to settle the claims ities of the respective contracting partners. and also the universities, in Switzerland as of Holocaust victims whose stolen prop- The negotiations with China have recently well. Today there are about 200 Jean Mon- erty made its way into Swiss banks. The been concluded. The contract with India is net’s chairs at the European universities. compensations provided by my country to shortly before its conclusion. Negotiations Most media reported onesidedly for many date have been widely portrayed not as an with Russia are on the way. (Compare also: years. When Jean Monnet died in 1979, honourable act of compassion but as evi- “Europe at a crossroad: More responsibility François Mitterand had his corpse trans- dence of a guilty national conscience. – and liberal cooperation between sovereign fer to the Panthéon where he now rests This confusion comes after two years of nations” in Zeit-Fragen; 24 October 2011). beside the notabilities of French politics accusations that Switzerland collaborat- Today, the vast network of the contracts and intellectual life. The foundation “Jean ed with Nazi Germany in World War II by comprises the most of the globe. Therefore, Monnet pour l’Europe” awards every year stealing Jewish property and mistreating EFTA need not fear the comparison with a medal of honour. Members of the Swiss refugees. These charges were not based WTO. For many years the World Trade Or- government like the Federal Councillors on any new information. All the relevant ganisation has tried in vain, to tie the free Adolf Ogi and René Felber rank among details have been available since 1946. trade into a uniform, global corset which ob- the prizewinners beside Jacques Delors But what is new is the surge of resentment viously is not fair to the individual members. and Helmut Kohl. Jakob Kellenberger, against Switzerland, and the ignorance Compared with that, the “method Schaffner” who was negotiations leader of the “Bi- that underlies it. Since I directed the Swiss deserves to be taken note of. It is a key to the lateral I” few years ago, is now the vice war economy during the menacing years understanding of the success of Switzerland. president of the foundation “Jean-Monnet of World War II, when we had to prepare pour l’Europe”. against Nazi aggression, I’m appalled to continued on page 5 No 6 11 February 2012 Current Concerns Page 4 The American imperialism manifests itself in manifold and different forms

The following text, attached to the letter of de Gaulle by the authors of the book, is intended as a guide to the reader and in each case it addresses de Gaulle himself, in order to call the historical situation to mind, in which the document was drafted by him. 10 June 1942. The forces of Free In the metropolis on radio Vichy, Churchill, but especially the Amer- France are fighting against the Laval will confirm before long, that ican policy regarding Vichy and tanks of the Africa Corps, the he wishes the victory of Germany, the unspeakable egoism of the Stukas and the Air Force at the while for the last two months the United States. Four days earlier in front of Bir Hakeim, a strategic Gestapo has been raging in oc- a secret note to Molotov, the Sovi- water point in the middle of the cupied France. Thanks to the ef- et foreign minister, you laid it on Libyan desert : simultaneously forts of Jean Moulin, the National the line: “The American imperial- the troops of Koenig and Mess- Committee of Free France is final- ism is expressed in manifold and mer are confronting Rommel and ly accepted by all resistance move- different forms. Some of his rep- the Italians and scarcely escape ments in the interior: Free France resentatives think in terms of U.S. the encirclement. In Madagascar and the occupied France soon be- American domination over the at the same time, British troops come “militant” France. You will Western world. Other representa- – without having informed you actually be forced to fight at all tives advocating the economic im- [this means de Gaulle] – have fronts: against your enemies, and perialism, desire that the U.S. im- been fighting during seven sometimes even against your al- plement a lifestyle for the whole months in fierce battles against lies, who sometimes have the ten- world and universally control and the troops of Vichy and the Jap- dency to surround you. You discuss manage the resources and the anese sub-marines. the problems of Madagascar with trade.“

On 10 June 1942 General de Gaulle writes to General Eboué and General compensation to the French in Leclerc, members of his staff. their own country or in the whole empire. In my telegram No. 5219/B CAB of 6-6- I warn you against such an 42 I communicated to you my fears re- approach of our American and garding the imperialistic plans of the English allies. It is absolute- United States and, although in less extent, ly necessary that we preserve a those of England, which concern the unity close collaboration against them. and integrity of our empire. The local agreements with By the way these plans are far from them, whether in economic or meeting with undivided acceptance in in military terms, may apparent- their own governments and in the public ly mean to us, certain advantag- opinion. Nevertheless just now the inex- es. But for the sake of a superi- pressible egoism in their politics prevails. or interest, I think it is essential In this regard the fighting France is the that all queries or forays of a for- barrier to their intentions. They try to ma- eign authority, concerning in any nipulate France from the inside, by weigh- way their use of our territories or ing the serious disadvantages, which in the armed forces or the equipment of worst case would be the discontinuance of these territories or armed forc- the relations. In particular they purport to es affected by them or joint ac- regulate the questions of the common ac- tions of these territories or forces tions with the local authorities. They cal- with theirs, or even the stay, the culate on finding the wanted facilities with arrival or the departure of their them without being obliged to provide any own people in these territories or within these armed forces, are under con- trol of the National Committee’s decision. That is targeted mainly at the missions of Felix Eboué Taylor and Cunningham. From 18 June 1940 on, Felix Eboué, Africa and is one of the first five peo- Being practical people, the Anglo-Sax- Governor General of Chad since 1938, ple who are honored by General de ons will soon bow themselves to the in- declares himself a supporter of Gen- Gaulle with the Ordre de la Libération. evitable, and I will have the possibili- eral de Gaulle. He transforms French Equatori- ty of benefiting from our competition for On 26 August, he officially declares al Africa into a genuine geopolitical the common good of the empire and the with Colonel Marchand, military com- hub, from where the first troops of country. mander of the area, the annexion of Free France start off under the com- Chad to Free France and thereby he mand of the generals de Larminat, gives the “signal for the re-erection Koenig and Leclerc. Général de Gaulle of the whole empire”. From Brazzaville, he forms an army Source: Les Messages secrets du général de On 12 November he is appointed of 40.000 men and promotes the war Gaulle, Londres 1940–1942 Gallimard 2011, Governor General of French Equatorial economy. S. 226 ISBN 978-2-07-013597-4 (Translation Current Concerns) No 6 11 February 2012 Current Concerns Page 5 The Free Democratic Party (FDP) in Germany is leaving the SME (Small and medium sized enterprises) behind without political representation by Prof Dr Eberhard Hamer, Germany

If after the highest approval of its history – cians among the FDP politicians. At lower as was the case in the last federal election levels, the FDP is even more convincing – a party experiences its deepest downfall, than the four socialist parties due to its there are really only two consequences: sociological roots among middle class • The party will disappear from the par- people. And there are outstanding entre- liaments and thus from the political preneurs and scientists among the sympa- process, or thizers of the FDP. Why does the FDP not • the party is fundamentally reformed in go for one of its popular economic profes- order to win approval again, especial- sors to head the Department of Economy ly with its traditional voters. The latter, and make him act knowledgeable in the however, requires that the party returns crisis instead of stammer about? to meeting its voters’ needs. The persuasiveness and credibility of The first alternative, of course, will hap- the FDP, therefore, most of all requires pen automatically if the second alterna- credibility and persuasiveness of its rep- tive – a reform of personnel and contents resentatives. Without changing the top Why do we let that – will not be carried out rapidly. ranks, the FDP will not regain its attrac- happen?Euro crisis: The tiveness among voters. desire to join; The FDP’s staff with contributions from How could the FDP fall for the mis- The FDP must have a message Prof. Dr Eberhard Hamer, take to present – instead of the princi- for the middle class Dr Eike Hamer and pled Guido Westerwelle – a man who is The FDP also does not provide their tra- Member of Parliament not characterized by competence but by ditional target audience with any political (MdB) Frank Schäffler (FDP, uncertainty due to a lack of professional message. This must also be altered. Free Democratic Party). and life experience and who also lacks The main target group of the FDP has a convincing message that is credible always been the SMEs. As neither the so- • Neither is our democracy credibly de- to the traditional FDP clientele of small cialist parties nor the assimilated CDU fended by the FDP. Contrary to Schaef- and medium-sized enterprises (SME). cared for this target group, the SMEs fler the party leadership wants to shift They would have acted more wisely by were left to the FDP who in the last fed- our national financial sovereignty to presenting the principled Guido West- eral general election helped to bring about the Politburo in Brussels (fiscal union) erwelle. The FDP urgently needs an- the CDU’s success hoping for a civil gov- through a second “Enabling Act” other leader who is more credible to the ernment. The FDP, however, did not meet (ESM), i.e. hand over the most impor- main target group of the FDP – the small the expectations of the SMEs: tant national right to self-government and medium-sized businesses. A Rainer • Its best SME politician Brüderle as well and make it a centralized law. Brüderle and a Frank Schäffler cannot as SME politician Schäffler are being If in such an important area of politics compensate for the lack of trust in the bullied by the leading “boy group”. they do the opposite of what they had pre- party leader. • Instead of tax cuts, the FDP was se- viously promised or what they had fought As the example of Schäffler shows, duced by its coalition partners to in- there are credible and persuasive politi- crease the burden for the middle class. continued on page 6

”Making resound the …” of the cold war and has been acted out fol- ropean integration” (dodis.ch/30861). He continued from page 3 lowing US-orders to a considerable part. It raised the fundamental issue: Are there Global challenge is high time to critically question this con- in Europe enough state-constituting ele- cept and to take up the challenges of this ments which allow to walk further on the In the East the countries of the Association century. The cold war has been history for way to the “United States of Europe”? He of South-East Asian Nations ASEAN work a long time. Maybe the population needs, pointed to the fact that the European soli- successfully together in a similar manner a sort of “Fall of the Wall” in the EU as in darity, the political will of the population, like EFTA. 1998 these countries were in the GDR twenty years ago to exit the re- the work of leaders and that sort of thing a heavy crisis like today the EU which stricting structures and the foreign control. would have to exist as indispensable el- went down in history as the Asia crisis. On Or as one says with Voltaire or with ements for building up a kind of federal their own responsibility they managed to Immanuel Kant so nicely: “Enlightment state. He developed a farsightedness rare gain control of their gigantic mountains of means exit from irresponsibility due to in the politics 43 years ago. More of the debt without having to use questionable in- one’s own fault.” same in the next article. • struments like EFSF, ESM or euro-bonds. In the fourth and last contribution to 1 GATT organisation carried out rounds of nego- Most are practically free of debt and have the subject “European integration” we tiations to adapt and to develop their contracts, formed reserves during the last years to return to 1969. Minister Albert Weitnauer, like today their successor organization WTO take up the challenges of the future. “Eu- a close collegue of Hans Schaffner, gath- – at intervals of several years. The best-known rope” cannot afford to ignore that. ered the Swiss ambassadors together on 5 ones are the Kennedy’s round (1962–1967), As the documents show today, the September 1969 and delivered a real les- the Uruguay round (1986–1994) and the Doha round (2001–2011) today. “Jean Monnet/USA-Concept” is a product son in political science on the subject Eu- No 6 11 February 2012 Current Concerns Page 6

”The Free Democratic Party …” ties are mainly fighting for the transfer in- crash of the euro and to recession. All continued from page 5 come earners, however, none of them spe- this is counterproductive; it is the right cifically for the market performing SMEs. slogan at the wrong time and the FDP for, they should not be surprised if the vot- So if the FDP like all other parties also is more likely to ridicule itself rather ers turn away in frustration. tries to feed the transfer income recipients, than become trustworthy. The FDP needs clear messages for its it becomes obsolete. If it cared, however, It just does not suffice, if you always call constituents again. It is important to clari- about the SMEs, it would be the only party yourself a centrist party, for neither the fy first, where the potential voters of FDP that would and could take over their rep- leaders nor the program do convincingly can be found: resentation. The electoral potential of the represent this point of view. The Mittelstandsinstitut of Lower Sax- SMEs is still more than 30%. Those who However a party for the SMEs would ony has just released a book (Eberhard are able to bind this potential are safe. be essential, because none of the other and Imke Hamer, “Mittelstand unter laut- The FDP would have to win back the parties will take care of the SMEs, but all er Räubern. Die Plünderung der Selbstän- SME voters because they are not served are instead dedicated to serve the majority digen” [SMEs among robbers. Plundering by other parties. And if it serves this group of transfer recipients. the self-employed] Aton-Verlag, 2011) of voters in a more credible and more con- A decline of the FDP would also have in which the authors pointed out that we centrated way than the other parties, it can implications for the SMEs. A real SME now have become mainly a transfer socie- stabilize itself again. party would at least have a voter poten- ty. Only a third of our population (33.9%) Credible SME messages look different tial of more than 30%. Although all parties is still earning and living on market in- from what the FDP currently formulates: claim to stand for “the middle of our soci- come, i.e. they must fight for their liveli- • In the euro dispute the MP Schaeffler ety”, but none of them take this “middle” hood in business enterprises, in freelance has publicly shown that the FDP al- seriously in fact. The parties are all leering offices, agriculture and forestry or in the lows more intra-party democracy than at the majority of the state-funded transfer- service sector – that is on the market. They any other party. The survey within the income recipients (redistributive policy). include 4.1 million entrepreneurs and their party could have been a great moment This voter potential of the SMEs should 23.7 million employees. This third of the in our democracy and for the FDP, if again be credibly served by the FDP, or a population has to finance with their mar- it had not been sabotaged by Philipp new party will be entering into this free ket revenues 37.7% transfer income earn- Roesler. space of voters and replace the FDP. The ers – public servants, pensioners, unem- • The FDP also had to fight against the decision in the FDP must be taken at short ployed and people living on welfare. That assumption of debt and the redistribu- notice – and will determine its political means that more than one other person tion by alleged rescue deals and against destiny. • who lives on the taxes or social security the abandonment of our financial sov- (Translation Current Concerns) contributions of his market income is kept ereignty in favor of a fiscal union in by each worker on the market. favor of the central committee in Brus- Moreover, 28.4% members of both sels. The central redistribution is a groups ultimately live on the market in- basic socialist principle, which is al- come of the former group, which implies ways directed against the hard-working that, on balance, two-thirds (66.1%) of our SMEs, whether national or European. Current Concerns population live on taxes and social con- Here, the FDP had its opportunity and The international journal for independent tributions of the first third – the entrepre- responsibility. If it spoke out against thought, ethical standards, moral responsibility, neurs and their employees. with the new “enabling law” of the and for the promotion and respect Anyone who calls for tax cuts threatens ESM together with Schaeffler, this law of public international law, human rights and humanitarian law the public services income of two thirds would nevertheless be decided by a ma- of the voters – the transfer income earn- jority of the three majority parties, but Publisher: Zeit-Fragen Cooperative ers. The majority of transfer income earn- the FDP would remain credible and in- Editor: Erika Vögeli ers is interested in higher taxes and social nocent as a timely admonisher of euro Address: Current Concerns, security dues, because it is the only pos- crisis that will be deepening in future. P.O. Box, CH-8044 Zurich sibility for them to expect higher transfer • On the occasion of their annual meet- Phone: +41 (0)44 350 65 50 payments. ing at Epiphany Roesler promised that Fax: +41 (0)44 350 65 51 Conversely, those who call for gener- Germany should be free of debt – but at E-Mail: [email protected] al tax cuts like the FDP will be regard- the same time he advocated a transfer Subscription details: ed as a threat by two-thirds of the popu- union and multiple debt assumption for published regularly electronically as PDF file lation. Either the FDP would only have all EU countries by Germany; it would Annual subscription rate of SFr. 40,-, € 30,-, £ 25,-, $ 40,- been allowed to reduce only those taxes constitute the largest debt that has ever for the following countries: that everyone will benefit from – such as threatened Germany. Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Canada, abolition of the solidarity surcharge – or • He also hoped for “growth through im- Cyprus, , Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hongkong, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, they would have had to call for the re- migration”. However, the majority of Japan, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Nether- duction of those taxes that discriminate the immigrants is a burden to the social lands, New Zealand, Norway, Qatar, Singapore, against the SMEs, i.e. higher taxation of system and would represent the market- Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Arab ­Emirates, personnel enterprises in relation to corpo- based response to labor shortages rath- United Kingdom, USA rations or changing the concept of prof- er than a wage increase in the deficit Annual subscription rate of SFr. 20,-, € 15,-, £ 12,50, $ 20,- it solely on revenues. Only then the FDP areas in order to attract the workforce for all other countries. could regain credibility of fiscal policy in in the shortage sector. Account: Postscheck-Konto: PC 87-644472-4 the SME sector, without antagonizing the • Why has Roesler just formulated at all The editors reserve the right to shorten letters to majority of the population. that “economic growth” was the main the editor. Letters to the editor do not necessarily The above division of our society into message of the FDP, while the econo- reflect the views and opinions of Current Concerns. market performers and transfer income my is already slipping into a crisis, and © 2011. All rights reserved. No reproduction, copy or earners is therefore forcing the FDP to while unfortunately the debt union co- transmission of this publication may be made without written stake a basic decision: all four other par- sponsored by the FDP will lead to a permission. No 6 11 February 2012 Current Concerns Page 7

USA want to use Asia for themselves km. Internationale Politik (IP Journal) is modification of Germany’s one-sided ties a foreign policy (designed by FDP for- an influential foreign policy journal of the to the West and for making Germany an eign minister Guido Westerwelle) that Federal Republic of Germany. It is pub- increasingly independent “hinge” between has found little approval across the At- lished by the “Deutsche Gesellschaft für the West and the East. In a position paper lantic? Auswärtige Politik (DGAP)”. In allusion by the Foreign Minister after the over- Probably not only, because the Ger- to the US Council on Foreign Relations throw of the Libyan leadership in the sum- man FDP no longer stands for a con- the DGAP also calls itself German Coun- mer of 2011, Westerwelle also advocated vincing liberal policy (see also the ar- cil on Foreign Relations. Issue No. 1 2012, new global balances and recommended ticle above on this page), and also deals with the German Iran policy in a that the trend towards a multi-polar world the foreign policy positions of the lengthy article. In it, the German govern- should nevertheless be taken into account party have become less independent. ment is accused of playing down the dan- by a future German foreign policy. Interesting, however, that classical lib- gers posed by Iran and of trying to avoid Obviously that does not suit the plans eralism, with the free citizen feeling re- war by all means and of criticizing the US of US policy, as formulated in the same sponsible for the common good and for government unfairly because of its policy issue of the IP Journal by US Secretary justice as the indispensable sister of free- towards Iran. The accusation particular- of State Hillary Clinton. In an article en- dom, in the centre of their ideas, is hard- ly aims at the German Foreign Ministry. titled “America’s Pacific Century” Clin- ly an issue of public opinion any longer. There have been attacks against the ton called for shifting the focus of US Recent surveys show that for the major- German Foreign Ministry since the of- foreign policy towards the Asia-Pacif- ity of people “freedom” and “liberal- fice has been taken over by FDP politician ic region – with “more economic, diplo- ism” are still very important. This is why Guido Westerwelle. They range from the matic and strategic resources”, to “make a public debate about what is the con- quotations emanating from the German Asia utilisable for the US yield the big- tent of these values shall be prevented. US Embassy, published by WikiLeaks, or a gest returns” and “renew our leadership”. Many Germans would like the political US intelligence agent as the Foreign Min- If the hitherto most important “allies” in processes in the country to be looked at ister’s office manager, to the campaign Europe decided to cease supporting US and discussed more thoroughly and hon- after the German abstention from the Se- interests in Europe, but to go more au- estly. That the citizens make themselves curity Council vote about the military op- tonomous ways instead, a serious weak- more independent from the twisted and eration against Libya, mainly due to the ening of the United States would be the nebulous standards of the Empire. To Foreign Minister. consequence. think and act freely in the sense of a true Already more than ten years ago, in an Could it be that the fact that the Ger- liberalism! And strengthen and unite the article for the “Frankfurter Allgemeine man FDP currently is worried whether forces that (within many parties and also Zeitung”, Guido Westerwelle, at that time it still be represented in parliament after outside) stand up and work for it. • still secretary of his party, had called for a the next general elections has to do with

Replica to “Serious problems for the Air Force” by Alfred Ramseyer, Brigadier General retired, former Chief of Staff of the Air Force. “Servir et disparaître”! This is what I in- sonnel at his disposal. The airfield, all fa- a CMND (Commission for Military Na- tended to do 14 years ago. The report of the cilities, air traffic control, local air traffic tional Defence), which took decisions and “Neue Zürcher Zeitung” dated 15 January control, aircraft-maintenance as well as the was conducted by the CSMD (Chief Swiss 2012 caused me to change my mind this time. general logistics of today belong to other Military Department). In this Commis- units, no longer to the airfield commander’s sion, a single person had actual expertise Everything that was “revealed” in this re- subordinate organizational units. in the field of air warfare. This was the port of the Federal Department of De- The airfield commander has degenerated Commander of the Air Force. At that time fense, Civil Protection and Sport DDPS into a coordinator/administrator, who has to he defended his well functioning organi- Inspectorate (original report of the In- try to reconcile all of his allotted depart- zation vehemently until it was no longer spectorate DDPS) and Andreas Schmid, ments, which is very time consuming and possible. In most cases, he was supported could have been found and read in the will – regarding today’s organization – be by his comrades. At that time FMD/GDS Federal Archives or the archives of the definitely too late in a case of emergency. (Federal Military Department/ Group for Air Force as a warning against the like- However, for air defense operations Defence Services) wanted to reorganize ly consequences of the reorganization eu- in our small country with little spatial according to purely economic criteria. phoria at that time – already many years depth minutes and seconds decide about At that time, foreign “experts” were ago and it might also have been cheaper. success or failure. An F/A-18 or perhaps deployed costing us several million Swiss For about two decades we have fought even a Gripen can take off 4–5 minutes francs, they primarily introduced econom- to establish a responsible airfield com- too late, because according to Swiss and ic aspects and searched for saving poten- mander on our operational airfields, as it is administrative concurrent procedures on tial. Operational requirements seemed to a common practice in all other Air Forces the ground much time has been lost, a have no priority at that time. in the world. This goal was finally reached, pilot even with best fighter control can- Under the political savings, reorganisa- but in the meantime that commander’s not identify or fight his target in time. tion and reduction pressure, the Air Force means have been withdrawn to ensure air was taken apart piece by piece: operations in an efficient and timely man- How could things come so far? ner. Today he still has some airplanes and In the beginning of the 1990s, when the continued on page 8 pilots as well as aircraft deployment per- “Army 95” was planned, there was still No 6 11 February 2012 Current Concerns Page 8

Media release Switzerland: Financial Directors of the cantons take an active role

Bern, 27 January 2012: The “Finanz- ary 2012. The FDK paid tribute on the • is managed constructively, i.e. that direktorenkonferenz” (FDK) agrees to basis of its conditions adopted on 28 Jan- there will be no threats, that existing the opening of a new tax dialogue with uary 2011, which have to be complied in bilateral commitments of the EU Mem- the EU. It expects that this dialogue will a possible new dialogue with the EU on ber States are observed and no discrim- be conducted by the EU and its mem- issues of corporate taxation.1 inatory measures against Switzerland ber states in a constructive and con- With its consent, the FDK confirms the will be taken. tained way and that it will be restrict- clear expectations that the tax dialogue Enquiries: ed on single, specific conversation items. • includes specific, individual issues, but Councillor Peter Hegglin, The consent of the cantonal governments not the acquisition of the EU Code of Vice-President of FDK, +41 41 728 36 01 to the tax dialogue remains reserved. Conduct and its principles, Dr Andreas Huber-Schlatter, Secretary In the presence of the head of the Feder- • ensues under active, systematic and FDK, +41 31 320 16 30 al Department of Finance, Federal Presi- close political integration of the can- 1 See www.fdk-cdf.ch/110128_coc_position_fdk_ dent Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf, the FDK tons and that ​​possible extensions of the wording_def_d.pdf acknowledged the result of the so-called dialogue will only ensue with the con- dialogue about the dialogue on 27 Janu- sent of the cantons, (Translation Current Concerns)

”Replica to…‘” What remains is an organization at our tion with air warfare can be explained con- continued from page 7 airfields, which is almost sufficient in the vincingly to those who take the decisions. quiet time of peace, in larger operations, The new “head structure of the army”, • Firstly the area of aircraft maintenance, for instance “WEF Davos (World Eco- which is currently under investigation, repairs and technical systems testing to nomic Forum Davos)” (4–6 days) the lim- proves that in this area obviously nothing the today’s RUAG (the RUAG Holding its were already stretched and in the case has changed. AG is a Swiss technology group with of emergency it will almost certainly fail The organizations and political par- its seat in Berne) right from the start. ties, which officially want to abolish our • later the air traffic control to “Sky- The well proven and globally accepted army and want no new aircraft – because guide” military principle “One space – one task it was unnecessary! –, will belong to the • it was followed by the infrastructure – one military leader with appropriate re- first crying to the Army for help some day. given to “armasuisse” (a Federal Agen- sources” has been criminally ignored for But also our responsible parliamentarians cy of the Swiss Confederation) years in this case. will no longer be persons of position and • Logistics requirements of the Air Force This did not happen because the Air authority then and will unfortunately get to the logistics base of the Army Force wanted this! But because at the away with it. • and most recently aerial surveillance level of parliament and army decisions Hopefully, Andreas Schmid’s report (FLORAKO), the electronic recon- were taken in the area of security poli- and the findings of the Inspectorate DDPS naissance of the Air Force, as well as cy, which encouraged this development. will finally achieve something and the Air the Flight Information Service had to There are not many parliamentarians who Force will regain those funds including be delivered to the Command Support have an actually well-founded expertise staff, which put them in a position to ful- Base of the Army (CSB). in this field gained from their own experi- fill their complex task on time and with • By the way: the parachute reconnais- ence. The younger generation of our “rep- appropriate persistence. sance troop was taken away from the resentatives” grew up in prosperity and Air Force as well. the imagination is obviously missing that Alfred Ramseyer, Brigadier General retired, This process of “downsizing” and the the long lasting peace with an excessive former Chief of Staff of the Air Force, constant reduction in personnel continued standard of living will come to a bad end, Corcelles-près-Payerne with the planning of the “Army XXI”. sometime. Published on 19 January 2012, Blog of the By the way it can be proved that these In my humble opinion, on highest Swiss General Staff officers, “saving” exercises in daily practice of Army level there was and there is not http://blog.ggstof.ch today cost far more than in the old and enough expertise gained in years of own (Translation Current Concerns) proven organization. experience, which so that organizational requirements of our Air Force in connec- No 6 11 February 2012 Current Concerns Page 9 Communes in the Upper Valais want to remain autonomous Model of a successful resistance by the population by Dr iur Marianne Wüthrich, Switzerland Despite years of manipulation by canton- al authorities and so-called consulting firms, the merger of the six Upper Val- ais communes Visp, Visperterminen, Bal- tschieder, Ausserberg, Bürchen and Egg- erberg into a large commune called Visp in February this year failed. Visperter- minen, Ausserberg and Baltschieder re- jected the merger of the residential com- munes: Visperterminen with 70 percent no-votes, Ausserberg with 58 percent and Baltschieder with 54 percent no-votes. Voter turnout was extremely high: in Visp, 63 percent of the inhabitants went to the polls and in the five other communes be- tween 80 and 92 percent. The people are Canton of Valais in control of their destiny.

According to Article 135 of the Valais Mu- nicipalities Act, the Great Council (the can- tonal parliament) is able to force a com- The planned merger would have included an area of 13,000 hectares. (Graphics: Zeit- mune to merge under certain conditions, Fragen, Cource: wikipedia/Tschubby) even against the will of the citizens. Ac- cording to the merger agreement, howev- difficult, as demonstrated by the example munes would have also led to the absurd er, a merger would only have been possible of the vote on the Wallis vote. situation that the new extended commune in this case if all communes would have To make the people agree with the merg- would have led its artificial existence in had agreed. The voters of three communes, er, they were fooled into believing that addition to the six communes which are however, resisted the financial lures of the the commune of Visp as the second larg- deeply embedded in the population. Canton: the cantonal authorities wanted to est commune in the Upper Valais, would In the canton of Valais the “Bürgerge- channel off 7.2 million francs out of the tax “gain prestige, importance and influence meinden” are of particular importance. system as so-called “financial assistance” to the outside” (see background report of They have mostly existed since the Mid- for the new greater commune. So much for the Beratung, Planung und Treuhand AG dle Ages and have always fulfilled basic the common claim – albeit long recognized Visp of September 2010) . This claim is ab- tasks in addition to the resident commune. as false – that a merged greater commune surd. Maybe this is true for the EU bureau- The “Bürgergemeinde” is defined in the would be cheaper than six small ones. Ob- cracy that a commune with a few thousand Constitution of the Canton of Valais of 8 viously not, if the Canton has to spend more inhabitants has more prestige, great- March 1907, Article 80, as a corporation such a sum! er importance and influence than a smaller under public law; it has a separate organ- commune. In small-scale, federal and di- ization with a Citizens’ Assembly and a What’s the purpose rect-democratic Switzerland however, each Civic Council (executive branch). The Cit- of these greater communes? commune has its meaning and place as the izens’ Assembly includes all the citizens The six communes should have merged smallest unit of the entity. In the mean- of the municipality and has decided on the by 1 January 2013. The new greater com- time everybody should have learned that naturalization of new citizens until recent- mune would have included about 11,000 small communes are more identity-form- ly. Today it still holds most of the common people in an area of 13,000 hectares. For ing, more social and yet less expensive than property. Each of the six “Bürgergemein- comparison, the most populous commune large ones. Therefore the small communi- den” of the failed merger has its own large of Switzerland, the city of Zurich with ties are entitled to the highest reputation. forest and some of them own vineyards and its almost 390,000 inhabitants, occupies alpine pastures. Accordingly, citizens have 9,188 hectares, including the share of the Definite ‘no’ of all six a right to a share of wood or wine. Similar lake. “Bürgergemeinden” forms of “Bürgergemeinden” also exist in The question arises who benefits from Besides the voting results of the resi- several other cantons. such a large commune in the Alpine area dential communes in Visp and its five with many open spaces. Do the propa- neighboring communes, the votes of the What matters for the citizens? gandists from the Brussels experimental “Bürgergemeinden” (citizen’s communi- In the Valais commune Visp and its kitchen hope that a single commune with ty) were also tallied on the occasion of neighboring communes neither the prom- a single executive and a single referen- the referendum on the merger. It had been ised financial aid from the canton nor the dum would be more likely to be persuad- expected in advance that they would op- hope for a lower tax rate could convince ed to establish a nature park, including the pose the merger. This was actually the the majority of the population. “There resettlement of wolves and lynx, and the case, and the result was in fact massive: are things that matter more than taxes”, ensuing severe restrictions for the popu- Between 61.5 and 91.96% of the residents said some residents of Ausserberg in a lation? Obtaining the consent of the sov- said no to the merger of the “Bürgerge- ereign in six communes is certainly more meinden”. A merger of the political com- continued on page 10 No 6 11 February 2012 Current Concerns Page 10

The wolf in Obergoms Decision of the Federal Court of 9 August 2007 bha. The wolf kills sheep in Obergoms. The cooperative of sheep farmers «I ricorrenti hanno il diritto a Sheep in the Alps often die miserably graze their herds on the Grimsel Pass che la votazione consultiva, che after a wolf bite. The wolf does not eat during summer. If they want to get com- di massima rappresenta l’unica its prey; it may be hurt and bleed to pensation for torn sheep, they must set up possibilità attraverso la quale death. The discovered dead sheep is ex- a protection fence. Many smaller sheep essi possono esprimere la loro amined for traces left by the attacker. In farmers give up after their herd has been volontà, rispetti il loro diritto di Grenoble, DNA analysis is performed. attacked by a wolf. This leads to an over- voto.» But already a day later, long before the growing of the pastures, and thus to in- (pag. 4, sotto) analysis results are available, someone creased danger of avalanches. The pas- says: “The wolf comes from Italy, it is a tures are cultural landscapes, which “The claimants have the right male.” The wolf roams along the young make life in the high valleys possible. that the consultative vote, which Rhone River. Without fear, he roams the The grazing herds of sheep preserve the basically represents the only pos- small villages. There he finds a dog that landscape. If the grass is not fed down, sibility to express their will, re- he chases. Wolves are said to cross the it grows into long grass, which does not spects their voting rights.” mountains, but this is denied by locals. provide any support for snow. The farm- “The wolf arrives on four wheels”, they ers in Obergoms have taken to organic (page 4 bottom) say. Before long, there will be a pack of farming and consider the whole thing an wolves. undesirable development. •

”‘Communes in the Upper Valais …‘” Constitution of the Canton of The judges of the Swiss Federal Court continued from page 9 Schaffhausen, Article 104 are well aware of that fact, as they are re- 1For the merger, the division and peatedly appealed to by a commune that radio broadcast of 31 January 2011. “I do the re-division of the communes, the is not willing to bow to the dictates of the not believe that the tax rate should de- consent of affected communes and canton, but to fight its independence. In termine a yes or no vote on the merger.” the approval of the Cantonal Coun- some cases, the Federal Court has protect- The power to dispose of the water, which cil is required. ed the commune’s right to self-determina- belongs to the communes, is of greater tion, in others it has – hopefully reluctantly importance to the mountain people – an 2The Canton may encourage the vol- – decided that a forced merger was based Ausserberg resident added that they did untary association of communes. on cantonal law and was therefore lawful. not know what would change in case of Constitution of the Canton of Zurich, a merger. What matters for the people is Article 84 Consultative vote or right to political decision? that they can retain their identity, their 1For the merger of communes the village life, their village character: “I support of the majority of voters of Actually consultative votes are excep- think that many fear that we would lose each participating commune is re- tional in the Swiss constitutional law, be- our identity, that after the merger they quired. cause the legislative power is in the hands would no longer be Ausserberger; they of the people. In cantons, whose legisla- fear that you are someone and no one at Some years ago, the cantonal legislation tion allows a cantonal decision on merg- the same time.” – “Unit now, Ausserberg in other cantons, such as the Ticino, the ers against the will of the people, refer- has always been independent and giving Grisons and Valais, provided the right of endums have the character of consultative this up would really be hard – that’s why the cantonal government or the Parliament votes. This happened for example on 30 we say no.” to intervene in the fusion process and September 2007: The Ticino communes And the Ausserberger people then said force some communes to merge against Barbengo, Cadro, Carabbia and Villa Lu- no two weeks later at the ballot box, to- the will of the citizens under certain con- ganese voted on a merger with the city of gether with the sovereign of Vispertermin- ditions – for example due to their geo- Lugano. Cadro was the only commune en and Baltschieder. graphical or financial situation. Cantonal that rejected the merger. Even before the laws are legitimated by the people’s will – vote a group of citizens could bring about Decision on municipal mergers must however in every canton a referendum can a courageous federal court decision that remain a matter for the citizens be initiated against a proposed law. Nev- was appropriate to the Swiss understand- In the case of the planned merger of ertheless, the possibility of forced merg- ing of communal autonomy: Despite the Visp the Canton of Valais has assured ers by the canton remains very problem- cantonal merger legislation, the Federal the communes involved that they would atic. Given the highly direct-democratic Court ruled that the citizens’ right to re- not be forced to merge against the will of rights of citizens and the great importance spect their political will was superior. • their populations. That should be a mat- of communal autonomy such interventions 1 The “Bürgergemeinde” (Citizen’s Community) ter of course in direct-democratic Swit- of the higher political level are alien to the is a statutory corporation in public law in Swit- zerland, with its highly distinctive ele- Swiss state structure. The fact that a Swiss zerland. It includes all individuals who are citi- ments of federalism and local autonomy. commune can be forced to merge with zens of the Bürgergemeinde, usually by having In some cantons, the voluntariness of other communes by the cantonal parlia- inherited the “Bürgerrecht” (citizenship), re- communal mergers is embodied in the ment or the government, even though its gardless of where they were born or where they may currently live. (Source: http://en.wikipedia. Constitution, for example, in Schaffhaus- population voted ‘no’ on its own dissolu- org/wiki/Bürgergemeinde) en and Zurich: tion in a referendum, is pretty rich! No 6 11 February 2012 Current Concerns Page 11 The merging of communes has been imposed from above Interview with Damien Lachat, Bassecourt mw. In the canton of Jura – as in other communes usually have far more control that never had cantons – a wave of communal mergers over their budgets than the large ones. any difficul- is in progress. On 5 February the voters Therefore, the argument that a large mu- ties to find such decided in Haute-Sorne whether to dis- nicipality was more affordable than seven people. solve their seven autonomous communes small communes cannot sustain. Bassecourt, Boécourt, Courfaivre, Glove- How does therefore the canton of Jura Which of your lier, Saulcy, Soulce and Undervelier and – as do the cantons of Grisons, Ticino, seven munici- merge them into one big municipality Valais, Schwyz and others – come to palities in the with almost 8,000 people. On the same urge their communes to merge? Where area of Haute- day, the voters in Val Terbi decided about does the idea that the federalist princi- Sorne are small the merger of the seven communes Cor- ple of Switzerland was antiquated come ones? ban, Courchapoix, Courroux, Mervelier, from? How can we nurture the absurd There are three Montsevelier, Vermes and Vicques. idea Switzerland consisted of too many small com- The next communal merger is already small scale units and required a tighter munes: Saulcy, Damien Lachat planned on 25 March: it is supposed to structure with much less communes, and Soulce and Un- (picture ma) convert all 13 communes in the district in the long term less cantons – although dervelier. Franches-Montagnes into a single one. thanks to our direct democracy we Swiss There was increasing resistance against have introduced, amongst other things, And these municipalities did not find peo- the proposals. Citizens of Haute-Sorne the effective instrument of a debt brake at ple to fill these posts? with different political viewpoints wrote the federal and cantonal authorities and Yet, they do find the people! There were letters to the editor. In Val Terbi an asso- therefore have far less debt than other other municipalities in the canton of Jura, ciation “Pro Terbi val”, which is critical countries? where no candidates could be found and of the merger, had formed. In the Franch- At this point only this: the idea to re- which merged therefore. There it was es-Montagnes the citizens’ movement place smaller political units by major meaningful. “Franches-Montagnes, je m’engage” had regions in the long term – by political been very active since already some time entities possibly reaching beyond the If you say that the mergers come from before the plebiscite and launched the country’s borders – has not been thought above, do you think that the canton is the campaign for this vote on 10 January with up by us. Or does anybody believe that the one that wants the merger? a resolution against the planned unified Swiss invented the metropolitan areas and Yes, the canton wants it as well – the municipality. nature parks, which have the purpose of fewer the communes, the fewer persons Citizens say no to dissolution of their imposing the rule of the executive at the can put in a word, when something comes political communes. With this decision expense of decision rights of the people, up. Therefore the canton gives a financial they say yes to the preservation of their the sovereign? startup aid for the merger in the first years, citizen-oriented government on a small Four citizens of Bassecourt in the can- some hundred francs per inhabitant, alleg- scale, instead of a central office in a big ton of Jura in a letter to the editor, pub- edly in order to “help when merging”, in municipality which people do not real- lished in the “Quotidien Jurassien” on reality rather to conceal the financial fig- ly identify with. They say yes to preserve 18 January, argued against the merger in ures a little in the first years. their full political rights, and also yes to the Haute-Sorne. Current Concerns had In terms of money, we are not winning the unique way an active population is the opportunity to meet with Mr Dami- anything by the merger. able to contribute to the vivid organiza- en Lachat, one of the authors of the let- tion of their commune as militia: in the ter. He lives in Bassecourt and is a dele- And the real costs come up later? communal council, in the communal as- gate of the Grand Conseil of the Canton Yes, because as the communes are setting sembly, in the commissions. For in the of Jura. up their budgets now, they put this finan- small communes the design of direct de- cial funding into the plus – thus the budg- mocracy is particularly pronounced: eve- Current Concerns: Mr Lachat, many ets look marvelous. rybody who wants to participate in their thanks that we can talk to you about the commune can actively do so. This high merger in the area of Haute-Sorne. In At the beginning… degree of identification with their com- your letter you say that the merger has Yes, at the beginning. Later, when there mune cannot be simply transferred to a been imposed on you from above. That is no longer any support one must look large municipality. Therefore, it might not means that it is not the citizens of the for this money elsewhere. In the context be easy to find people for the government communes that ask for the merger? of our merger in the Haute-Sorne there is and administration of the merged munic- Damien Lachat: That’s correct, it is an even a deficit despite this funding, I be- ipality who totally engage with the needs idea of several community council mem- lieve it is around 900,000 francs. With- and concerns of every individual village bers. The citizens were not really ask- out this funding of the canton the defi- like, for example, the current commu- ing for such merger. As a matter of fact, cit would even be higher. And if one had nal councilors and the communal coun- there were some small communes in the not wanted a merger, a strong tax increase cil clerks. Swiss Jura, which couldn’t find people to would have been necessary. So what did Despite the increasing burden of re- act as members in the community coun- they do? They increased the taxes a lit- sponsibilities and regulations on the part cils and its commissions. In such a case tle bit and including the cantonal funding of the cantons, autonomy among the Swiss it makes sense to unite with other small in the first year the budget provided for communes is still extremely large. More- communes. But Bassecourt is a large mu- over, it is an open secret that the small nicipality with 3,000 to 4,000 inhabitants continued on page 12 No 6 11 February 2012 Current Concerns Page 12

”‘The merging of communes …‘” Or any school? And what about primary an office in each village, so nothing is continued from page 11 schools in the villages? saved. The small villages are in the moun- Since the small villages do not have many tains. You cannot ask the elderly inhabit- the merger does not look too bad. As the inhabitants, there isn’t a school in every ants to descend to the central administra- taxes and fees become a little more expen- village any longer. The secondary school tion if they want to go voting or if they sive it works so-so including the cantonal is in Bassecourt already, others will go to have to settle their affairs. I do not believe funding. But from the next year onwards Bassecourt as well. that we would save any expenses on ad- the taxes must be increased in any case, ministration because of the merger, nei- because we cannot continuously incur our And the primary schools? ther on the infrastructure nor on human debts. The small villages do not have a prima- resources. A further serious reproach at the ad- ry school, but Boécourt, Courfaivre and dress of the authorities is that they want Glovelier still have one. But if it comes to Is the militia principle still working in to merge their communes without requir- distributing money later on, will they not Bassecourt? ing balanced budgets before. All villag- say it’s better to place the whole school (all Yes, it is working very well. If you look es are poor, except Boécourt. There they former village schools) in the same place, at the elections, there the lists are always have several good taxpayers, entrepre- i.e. the largest place, which is Bassecourt? well filled. We also have the “conseil de neurs. Therefore they have a tax level ville”, our small parliament, and there are somewhat deeper than in the other villag- And a school bus will be necessary… always enough candidates – more appli- es around. Boécourt is the only munici- Yes, and this school bus must be paid. cants than seats, as well as in the commu- pality, whose communal council is pledg- And if you don’t have anybody in the mu- nal council. ing for a “no” in the votes. Many poor nicipality representing you, it will be dif- communes merged will not result in one ficult to preserve your interests. One of your arguments against the fusion rich. In terms of money, we are not win- is the loss of people’s rights. What are the ning anything The Communal Secretary of each vil- rights the population would lose? For ex- lage knows, what is going on and what ample in case a “conseil général” is in- There are however not only financial ar- is to be done. Don’t you believe that the troduced replacing the communal meet- guments. Your letter to the editor espe- quality of the communal authorities work ings… cially appealed to me, as you are also becomes better if you have professional One can still say, that the conseil gé- listing up other reasons against a merger. civil servants? I quote from your letter to néral – that is a small parliament – is There are large municipalities such as the editor: “The civil servant is the most at least subject to elections; it has 41 Bassecourt having 3,000 to 4,000 inhab- competent person in the communal ad- seats, so the representation of the pop- itants, and then there are the small com- ministration.” ulation would be maintained. It is cor- munes like Saulcy, Soulce and Underveli- Yes, that is correct. The communal Sec- rect that municipalities such as Basse- er with 200 to 300 people. Problems arise retary is the one, who is really concerned court are well represented. But the three from that regarding representation in the with the administration of his commune. smallest villages would have a prob- merged communal council. If the merg- But after the merger there will be one only. lem: In the conseil général each of them er is accepted, a large municipality will He will know about his village, thus about would have three seats out of 41 only. If be formed with only one communal coun- Bassecourt, as it is the largest. All others all others do not want to give a cent to cil. In order to push the merger through will disappear, and the personnel in the these villages, they will not get any cent. the authorities were saying that in the first center will no longer know, what is hap- The legislation is one thing, but if some- election each village will get a seat in the pening in the other six villages and what body wants to change anything, he has communal council. This way all are rep- is really needed. Today in each commune to sit in the executive, in the communal resented. But in the next legislature the there is a communal president, who knows council. And there, as I already said, the delegation will take place according to a what’s going on and what needs to be done. small villages do not have a chance to ob- proportional representation system, since He can go to the communal council and tain a seat. It is meant in that sense if we there will be only one municipality. Even if state: We must straighten up this and that. speak of loss of the people’s rights. all voters in the small communes with 200 They are really those, who are very up to or 300 inhabitants would put their ballot for date regarding the administration of their How is a village with 300 inhabitants to only one person out of their village, there commune. If they are gone, then there is collect 300 signatures collected in a ref- would be no chance for this person because only the individual citizen, who can go to erendum? of the proportional election system. the council and say: We need money for Moreover I must mention that a referendum the road – however he doesn’t have any against the resolutions of the parliament Is there only one constituency for all con- chance. In the small communes the pop- was introduced replacing the communal cerned villages after the merger? ulation would lose all power. For the large meetings. 300 signatures would be needed Yes, one for all, except in the first legisla- ones it is not a problem. for the referendum and likewise for the ini- tive period. I do not believe that we could save up tiative. The communication of the authori- administration costs because of the merg- ties concerning the vote on the 5th of Feb- A little ”goodie”… er. ruary told us that the small villages would Yes, a further little “goodie”. But it won’t have an advantage! But the question aris- do to cheat the people. That is one of the And the wages of the professionals are es: How is a village with 300 inhabitants great problems. If money is needed to more expensive… to collect 300 signatures in a referendum? build a road or to invest something in the Yes, people must be paid. In Bassecourt village, and if there isn’t anybody from there is already one full time wage, but I Mr Lachat, thank you for the interview, that village representing it in the council, do not think that in the small communes and we wish you and your communes then there is a great danger never to get 100% full-time equivalents must be paid good luck! to the money. And a village, which does today. They say one could save by central- It’s the talk of town: Small communes no longer have any people, doesn’t need izing the local administration, but this is keep house more favorably and more eco- roads. not correct. Nevertheless one must have nomically than large one’s • No 6 11 February 2012 Current Concerns Page 13

It is an open secret: Small municipalities keep better order in their budget than the large ones

mw. It has been the main argument for Professional administration is more civil servant in the village quickly puts municipality mergers for more than expensive and more anonymous a note into the mail box of a family on 10 years: A larger municipality is al- It is clear to each communal politician: his way home, something like that is im- legedly cheaper than seven smaller The militia system is less costly than a possible in a greater municipality. Result: ones. Despite hundredfold repetition professional administration. The local A greater municipality is more expensive this statement is wrong. In the mean- administrations in the villages work – than seven small ones. time also national institutions and contrary to the central administration of “experts” have realized it. Already merged municipalities – more econom- Small municipalities keep the preparation and organization of ically, because they get by with fewer better order in their budget a merger costs hundred-thousands of employees, usually working part time than the large ones francs even in case of smaller munici- but with good knowledge of local con- In a small commune no school building palities: “On the one hand merger pro- ditions and little bureaucracy. The com- and no road will be built if the commune jects […] need consultancy by exter- munal center including facilities has cannot afford it. Before planning new in- nal experts, most of the time. On the lond since been written off for long. In frastructure or facilities, they first exam- other hand the reorganization causes addition there are the militia workers, ine whether the former ones can be re- expenses (new administrative struc- working voluntarily or for a small pay- furbished. Look at the expenditures of a tures, new buildings, adjustment of ment – this is done only by those, who city: There they work “with vast quan- information technology).” – said a feel connected with their village. Every- tities”. merger proponent. (Daniel Kettiger, one knows: The personnel expenditure “Municipality mergers, a topic with rises and the bureaucracy increases with Small municipalities are most favorable many facets”, Berne 2004) increasing size of the municipality. The – humanely, socially and financially.

Haute-Sorne: Yes to closer cooperation – no to fusion of municipalities

The fusion was forced upon the very small launch an initiative or a referendum and cess to public offices is a fundamental communes from above, beginning with would only have to collect 300 signatures. right in the jurassic constitution. Montfavergier. The seven communes of In a merged municipality the parlia- With the fusion, each person and each the Haute-Sorne always found local coun- mentarians will not watch the expendi- family, who is homeland-entitled in one of cils and communal presidents. None of tures, particularly, because they will not the seven villages, loses its place of resi- them was placed under the administration be held accountable for them. Who will dence. This one is replaced by the little of the canton, and the democratic state- claim this later or who will remember the winsome newspeak term Haute-Sorne. ment in the commune meetings is protect- votes of Pierre and Paul? Thus the tax rate After the merger of the fire-brigade to ed. The large losers of the fusion would will continue to rise, even if the merger the SIS, the micro region has extended its be the small communes and their citizens, committee feigns savings at all corners efforts to regional co-operation on the im- who would lose their communal meetings. and ends, without numbering them. The portant building zone plan of Glovelier In the new local council, no seat will be smaller a commune is, the better the pub- (ZAM), a society for the common prop- guaranteed to them in the 2nd legislature. lic funds are administrated. erty of garbage lorries, a new bus line and Besides, joining a political party would Sometimes one can get the impression a UAPE (Union d’Accueil Parascolaire be necessary in order to become a local that fusion rhymes with collective resig- pour Ecoliers), meaning a day nursery. council member. Today, the citizen can nation. It seems we could be delighted if Let us summarize: Yes to closer co-op- deal with a local council or municipality our local councils were replaced by pro- eration, no to fusion. president in everyday life, but he can also fessional ones, because certain new local Jean-Jacques Kottelat, Yves Girard, control him or shift him into minority in a councils would have to face complex ad- Damien Lachat und Willy Habegger communal meeting. For the citizens of six ministrative matters. This means the de- (SVP Bassecourt-Berlincourt) communes the fusion means a loss of their preciatiation of the full-time town clerk, political rights – this is without precedent who is the most competent person in the (Translation Current Concerns) until today! They were told that they could local administration. In addition, the ac- No 6 11 February 2012 Current Concerns Page 14

Haute-Sorne – selling off our community? No thank you! At the information meetings regarding the ipal contributions which will have to be 2nd parliamentary term on, all these are merger of our communities we witnessed developed within 3 years in connection changes that we cannot agree to. a lack of democracy of great significance with the merger (according to the mes- The financial problem is not settled: Al- just as the agreement, which will be put to sage which was attached to the cantonal locating half of the merger’s money to the the vote, promises! regulation on the recognition of the merg- reduction of the entire structural deficit of No contradictory debate and simply er agreement) and not within 5 years as years seems questionable to us and corre- slurring over important questions issues. it is said in article 8, paragraph 2 of the sponds little with the accounting princi- Too bad! [...] agreement. ples. It is simply an artificial reduction of The lack of specific information had The loss of civil rights –- the reduced the deficit of the new large community. [...] the effect that everybody expressed what representation of the now existing com- The argument that we will be stronger was just occurring to him. munities that will join this new entity, together is not valid either. Stronger com- For example, a community that doesn’t because the municipal assemblies will pared to whom? Someone answered us agree to the merger will no longer be able to be abolished and replaced by a munici- that it is in relation to the canton. Are the send their children to a secondary school! pal parliament – the right to initiative and relations between canton and communities We must especially pay attention to the referendum that can hardly be exercised only limited to a power relationship? [...] problematic points of the agreement and as was the case in the small communi- Maire-Noel Willemin, Saulcy, we must also observe the content in detail; ties: the necessary number of signatures Kantonsrätin CVP e.g. with respect to the future implement- can no longer be achieved – the reduction Eric Dobler, Basscourt, Kantonsrat CVP ing regulations in connection with munic- to a single constituency already from the (Translation Current Concerns) No to abandoning local politics

The discussion regarding the municipal- cial argument is insincere, because if you to retain the possibility of local votes, but ity mergers raises fundamental questions think just a bit: If the fund had not been en- “the cantonal law does not allow it”! No about the future of the jurassic commu- forced, the money could be provided for the cantonal law is eternal and unchangable. nities. They enjoy an enviable situation, communes which are in difficulties, with- I hope that, as in Sursee last week- which they should not flog off for a few dol- out forcing their dissolution. end, the residents of the Haute-Sorne will lars and for promises of more bureaucratic If the mergers are implemented as in- maintain their freedom and their responsi- efficiency! tended, they fundamentally change the sit- bility, and will not allow to be overrun by Just the fact that the state provides finan- uation concerning power and administra- the wave of dissolution which is intend- cial support is already alarming. They buy tion. The first to benefit from this are the ed by an ill-advised advised political elite. the votes in a more or less veiled manner, “elites”, which are imposed by the profes- The reactions of relief in Sursee after the and this is not an approach that is compat- sionalisation of community boards, and rejection show, that another way is possi- ible with democratic freedom. All the more the parties, which will gain greater power. ble: no to dissolution, no to the merger! so when one considers that the available The loss of local influence is obvious Pascal Prince, Soyhière money comes from all pockets, that is from and desired from above. Therefore, the the opponents’ pockets as well. The finan- communities of Upper Sorne would like (Translation Current Concerns) Haute-Sorne – a bluff package All of us together “we are stronger”, that is Would we be stronger with a tax rate The citizens of Haute-Sorne can’t be the slogan of the Haute-Sorne committee. of 2.1 at a projected deficit of one million fooled: 5 February they will place a confi- Would we be stronger if we sold off the francs, knowing that some communities dent NO into the ballot box. industrialized country in Glovelier to a are probably not going to join the new en- multinational corporation, instead of con- tity? Frédéric Juillerat, Courfaivre sidering the enterprises in the region? Let’s stay calm: all that is nothing but Would we be stronger in our request to deception tactics, a sham. Let’s not sell preserve our old traditional hometowns? our soul to the devil. (Translation Current-Concerns) Val Terbi – too fast and too inaccurate It is extraordinary that 10 days before sues generated even more confusion about entire fusion study, which led to this vote the vote on a merger of the communes in the merger contract (Merger Convention), went too fast and that it lacks accuracy. the Val Terbi, a part of the proposals of which will be submitted to a vote. It’s not about enumerating all details, but “Pro Val Terbi”, where the merger com- In fact, the text of the document that to decide the future of our region, and this mittee issued “No is not possible” now will be submitted to the vote, shows that on the basis that remained vague. I can seems possible nevertheless. For exam- those rules are not in it, therefore his draft not content myself with the so often re- ple: to extend the preservation period of is no longer up-to-date. There should have peated “We’ll see” and “it will work out in the constituencies in each community for been a debate on these clauses to specify the end”. More time for reflection would 5 years (Article 9.3) and the possibility the conditions. That means the people will allow for more clarity. to exit again from a merged community. be asked to sign a blank check. In addition Cécile Vuiellemen, Courchapoix In recent briefings the statements of the there are all the other items mentioned by communal presidents regarding these is- “Pro Val Terbi”. I firmly believe that the (Translation Current Concerns) No 6 11 February 2012 Current Concerns Page 15

Schmallenberg virus Many malformations in newborn lambs

In the last days an increasing number of the increased occurrence of malformations shepherds reported the higher inciudence in this lambing season. Authors: of malformed lambs. The cause of this seems to be an infection with the Schmal- Monitor birth! Henrik Wagner, PhD lenberg virus (SBV) Typically in a herd several mother sheep (10 Professor A. Wehrend to 15 percent) are affected. According to the Clinical Center for Veterinary Medi- cine, Clinical Center for Obstetrics, Gy- End of the last year in a sheep farm in data available to us, the mothers, after fin- necology and Andrology for Large and Hesse (Germany) a complex of different ishing the physiological duration of preg- Small Animals with Veterinary Ambu- malformations in newborn lambs could be nancy start lambing without disturbances. lance at the Justus-Liebig-University observed more frequently. The symptoms Delay up to a total stop of the birth process Giessen did not fit with the disease-complexes in (parturition process) can occur caused by lambs having occurred up to now. (see the malformations of the lambs (see pho- Contact: table). The number of lambs with malfor- tographs). The problems cannot be solved mations in this farm rose within a very without help. But it is also possible that mal- Henrik Wagner, PhD short time. In cooperation with the state- formed lambs are born in a normal way. Frankfurter Strasse 106, D-35392 Giessen owned company Hessian Regional Labor In every case it is most important to [email protected] carry out a monitoring of sen.de birth to recognize stagna- Phone: 0049-641-9938-703 tions in time. Due to mal- Mobile: 0049-170-7812-928 formations in this lambing season an increased occur- rence of difficult births is birth and a stiffend joint belonging to a mal- expected. formation complex. The lambs affected show When assisting at the birth of multiples different changes in their the examinator has to match the already skeleton. Stiffening of fore visible extremities correctly to the healthy and or hind legs are striking. or to the possibly sick animal. This unphysiological posi- After having seen clearly if and how tion can be more or less dis- many malformed lambs are in the uterus tinctive. Often the joints are the targeted pulling out can begin. stiffened in a stooped pos- Up to now mother sheep do not show ture. Furthermore the neck any recognizable clinical symptoms of the Dead lamb with a short lower jaw, twisting of the neck, can be turned down lateral- infection at the time of birth or the days stiffening of both front legs in the carpal, tarsal joint stiff- ly. The spine is twisted in before. Because the assistance at birth ening of both hind legs with additional strong flection an S-shaped way, reduc- can lead to injuries of the mother affect- above the left claw. (picture by Dr Wagner) tions of the lower jaw may ed sheep should be observed closely to occur. Deformations of the be able to intervene in time if the general the affected lambs were examined system- skull are possible, too. In most cases these condition is worsening. atically. lambs are not viable or already born dead. At the same time there was a report The lambs who are born alive have a The Schmallenberg Virus from the Netherlands that newborns with sucking and a swallowing reflex but are Due to the phenomena described above malformations were observed there as not able to drink naturally due to the mal- the higher frequency of birth defects is well and that it was suspected that the formations. cause relates to an infection of the moth- ers with a virus which received the name Examine cautiously! Schmallenberg virus in Germany. This Interesting is the distri- virus has been isolated in different cattle bution of sick animals farms in North-Rhine Westphalia in No- in case of multiple birth. vember 2011. The cows had fever, yield- Besides malformed ed only little milk, showed a reduced gen- lambs normal, alive and eral condition and a loss of appetite. These vivid lambs can be born symptoms were not observed in the moth- which show a normal er sheep. development. But all an- Samples were taken of the malformed imals of a multiple birth lambs in Hesse and were examined for the can be affected as well. Schmallenberg virus in the Friedrich-Lo- According to this fact effler-Institut (FLI) on the isle of Riems. the obstetrical examina- In all lambs the virus could be detected. tion becomes especially The same result was obtained during the important. So one has examination of malformed lambs in other to distinguish between federal states and in other Hessian sheep a stooped joint which A naturally raised lamb with the typical stiffened changes in farms. Therefore it can be assumed with a time and again occurs all limbs, head tilt, and spinal curvature. high certainty that a virus infection led to as “normal” obstacle of (picture by Dr Wagner) No 6 11 February 2012 Current Concerns Page 16 suspected to be the result of an intrauter- od from 2006 to 2007 – ine infection with the so-called “Schmal- is to be expected. lenberg virus”. This is a virus of the genus In Hessen, the virus of Orthobunya viruses. It can be sub- could not be detec- sumed to the Simbu serogroup (Sham- ted in goats up to now, onda, Aina, Akabane viruses). The high- but actually, there exist est genetic similarity was found with the some descriptions of Shamonda virus. The previously observed the occurrence of such clinical picture was described as “Arthro- symptoms in newborn gryposis-Hydranencephalic Syndrome.” animals. Further inve- So far these viruses that cause the above- stigations are needed mentioned symptoms were only found in to demonstrate whe- cattle in Australia, Asia and Africa. ther these defects are It is not a zoonotic agent, and thus no due to viral infection. risk for humans is assumed! Recently, it became a The transmission of the Schmallenberg notifiable disease, to A lamb born by caesarean section showing a twisting of the virus – as with other viruses of the Simbu be provided to the ve- neck and an extremely inclined position of the front and hind group, too – happens namely via gnats terinary office. In Hes- limbs. (picture by Dr Wagner) and mosquitoes. Therefore, the use of re- sen, the department Source: First published in Schafzucht. The maga- pellents appears as a possible prophylac- and ambulatory of Veterinary Obstetrics, zine for sheep and goat farmers (www.schafzucht- tic treatment. Due to the transmission of Gynecology and Andrology of large and online.de) from 28.22012 the virus by gnats, a similar geographical small animals (KGGA) of the Justus-Lie- spread of the infection – as was found du- big-University of Giessen investigates the ring the Bluetongue infection in the peri- cases. • (Translation Current Concerns) Possible reasons for deformities in lambs

Cause Clinical presentation

Copper deficiency Weakness of the hind quarters with unsteady gait Genetic defects (are inherited and can be Cleft palate, dwarfism, spider limbs, wry neck, passed from generation to generation) congenital absence of the lower jaw, decrease in length of the mandible, congenital absence of the anus Viral infections Diverse skeletal deformities in stillborn and born alive lambs Environmental toxins i.a. organic deformities Teratogenic medication Origin of different defects during the embry- onic development of the lamb in the uterus

book review The approved aid1 booklet, “Gesunde Schafe” (Sound Sheep) has been revised Orders to aid info-dienst e. V., Vertrieb, Postfach For all sheep farmers, the health of the based feeding. Special emphasis is put 1627, 53006 Bonn, flock plays a crucial role for their oper- on practical hoof care. e-mail: [email protected], www.aid-medien- ating income. Only healthy sheep will This chapter describes in detail and shop.de show high and consistent performance. illustrates with numerous color photo- Source: www.aid.de The revised aid-booklet, “Gesunde graphs inter alia the structure of the sheep Schafe” (Sownd sheep) gives a detailed claw, the fixation of the animals and the 1 Aid – Auswertungs- und Informationsdienst overview of food related diseases, inter- correct procedure for claw trimming. für Ernährung, Landwirtschaft und Forsten nal and external parasites and hoof dis- In addition, the booklet provides infor- (Information Service for Food, Agriculture eases. The focus is on prevention, be- mation on the proper use of veterinary and Forestry) provides consumers, teachers, cause the ancient Romans’ motto that medicines and the regulations of animal journalists and other interested people with expert and scientific knowledge on various “Prevention is better than cure” is still welfare with regard to sheep production. topics in these areas in comprehensible form. true today. The topics in this booklet Aid-booklet, “Gesunde Schafe” (only range from birth hygiene measures to the available in German), 68 pages. best pasture and barn hygiene and need- Order no. 61-1345, ISBN 978-3-8308 - 0981-4.